BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY: In
the beginning, the history of the American Akitas is similar to the
history of Japanese Akitas. Since 1603, in the Akita region, Akita
Matagis (medium-sized bear-hunting dogs) were used as fighting
dogs. From 1868, Akita Matagis were crossbred with Tosas and
Mastiffs. Consequently, the size of Akitas increased, but
characteristics associated with Spitz type were lost. In 1908 dog
fighting was prohibited, but Akitas were nevertheless preserved and
improved as a large Japanese breed. As a result, nine superior
examples of Akitas were designated as « Natural Monuments » in 1931.
During World War II (1939-1945), it was common to use dogs as a source
of fur for military garments. The police ordered the capture and
confiscation of all dogs other than German Shepherd Dogs used for
military purposes. Some fanciers tried to circumvent the order by
crossbreeding their dogs with German Shepherd Dogs. When World
War II ended, Akitas had been drastically reduced in number and
existed as three distinct types : 1) Matagi Akitas 2)
Fighting Akitas 3) Shepherd Akitas. This created a very confusing
situation in the breed. During the restoration process of the
pure breed after the war, Kongo-go of the Dewa line enjoyed a
temporary, but tremendous popularity. Many Akitas of the Dewa
line, which exhibited characteristics of the Mastiff and German
Shepherd influence, were brought back to the United States by members
of the Military Forces.
The Akitas from the Dewa line, intelligent and capable of adapting to
different environments, fascinated breeders in the United States and
the line was developed with increasing number of breeders and a great
rise in popularity.
The Akita Club of America was established in 1956 and the American
Kennel Club (AKC) accepted the breed (inscription into the stud book
and regular show status) in October 1972. However, at this time,
the AKC and the JKC (Japan Kennel Club) did not have reciprocal
agreements for recognizing each other’s pedigrees and therefore the
door was closed for the introduction of the new bloodlines from
Japan. Consequently, Akitas in the United States became
considerably different from those in Japan, the country of
origin. They developed as a type unique in the United States,
with characteristics and type unchanged since 1955. This is in
sharp contrast with Akitas in Japan which were crossbred with Matagi
Akitas for the purpose of restoring the original pure breed.

GENERAL APPEARANCE:
Large-sized dog, sturdily built, well balanced, with much substance and
heavy bone. The broad head, forming a blut triangle, with deep muzzle,
relatively small eyes and erect ears carried forward almost in line
with back of neck, is characteristic of the breed.

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS:
• The ratio of height at withers to length of body is
9 to 10 in males and 9 to 11 in bitches.
• The depth of the chest measures one-half of the height of the dog at withers.
• The distance from tip of nose to stop corresponds
to the distance from stop to occiput as 2 does to 3.

HEAD: Massive, but in balance with the body, free or wrinkles when at ease. Head forms a blunt triangle when viewed from above.

CRANIAL REGION:
Skull: Flat and broad between ears. A shallow furrow extends well up on forehead.
Stop: Well defined, but not too abrupt.

FACIAL REGION:
Nose: Broad and black. Slight and diffuse lack of pigment on nose
is acceptable in white dogs only but black is always preferred.
Muzzle: Broad, deep and full.
Lips: Black. Not pendulous; tongue pink.
Jaws/Teeth: Jaws not rounded, but blunt, strong and powerful.
Teeth strong with regular and full dentition; scissor bite preferred,
but level bite acceptable.
Eyes: Dark brown, relatively small, not prominent, almost triangular in
shape. Eye rims black and tight.
Ears: Strongly erect and small in relation to the rest of the
head. If the ear is folded forward for measuring length, tip will
touch upper eye rim. Ears are triangular, slightly rounded at
tip, wide at base, not set too low. Viewed from the side, the
ears are angled forward over the eyes following the line of the neck.

TAIL:
Large and well furnished with hair, set high and carried over back or
against flank in a three-quarter, full, or double curl, always dipping
to or below level of back. On a three-quarter curl, tip drops
well down on flank. Root large and strong. The terminal
bone of tail reaches hock when let or puled down. Hair coarse,
straight and dense, with no appearance of a plume.

LIMBS

FOREQUARTERS: Forelegs heavy-boned and straight as viewed from front.
Shoulders: Strong and powerful with moderate layback.
Pasterns: Slightly sloping forward in an angle of approximately 15° to the vertical.

GAIT / MOVEMENT: Powerful,
covering ground with moderate reach and drive. Hindlegs move in
line with forelegs. Back remaining strong, firm and level.

COAT

HAIR: Double-coat. Undercoat thick, soft, dense and shorter than
outer coat. Outer coat straight, harsh/stiff and standing
somewhat off body. Hair on head, lower legs and ears short.
Length of hair at withers and croup approximately 5 cm, which is
slightly longer than on rest of body, except tail, where coat is
longest and most profuse.

COLOUR: Any colour like red, fawn, white, etc; or even pinto and
brindle. Colours are brilliant and clear, and markings are well
balanced, with or without mask or blaze. White dogs (solid in
colour) have no mask. Pinto have a white ground colour with
large, evenly placed patches covering head and more than one-third of
body. Undercoat may have a different colour from the outer-coat.

FAULTS: Any
departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and
the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in
exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and
welfare of the dog.
• Feminine dogs, masculine bitches.
• Narrow or snipey head.
• Any missing tooth (except 2 of the PM1 and/or M3).
• Blue or black spotted tongue.
• Light eyes.
• Short tail.
• In or out at elbows.
• Any indication of ruff or feathering.
• Shyness or viciousness.